Midlands State University Faculty of Commerce

FACULTY OF COMMERCE

FACULTY REGULATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE DEGREES

1. Introduction

1.1 The Faculty of Commerce regulations shall be read in conjunction with the General Academic Regulations for undergraduate degrees of the Midlands State University hereinafter referred to as the General Regulations.

1.2 The Faculty of Commerce offers the following Undergraduate degree Programmes at Honours level;

- Bachelor of Commerce Accounting Hounors Degree (HACC)

- Bachelor of Commerce Banking and Finance Hounours Degree (HBF)

- Bachelor of Commerce Business Management Honours Degree (HMAN)

- Bachelor of Commerce Economics Honours Degree (HECON)

- Bachelor of Commerce Entrepreneurship Honours Degree (HENT)

- Bachelor of Commerce Insurance and Risk Management Honours Degree (HIRM)

- Bachelor of Commerce Marketing Management Honours Degree (HMRK)

- Bachelor of Commerce Retail Management Honours Degree (HRET)

- Bachelor of Commerce Tourism and Hospitality Management Honours Degree (HTHM)

1.3 The Faculty of Commerce also offers the following Masters programmes:

- Master of Commerce in Accounting

- Master of Commerce in Economics

- Master of Commerce in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance

- Master of Commerce in Marketing Strategy

- Master of Commerce in Tourism and Hospitality Management

- Master of Business Administration

- Executive Master of Business Administration

2. Entry requirements

2.1 Normal Entry

2.1.1 To be admitted into the programmes of the Faculty of Commerce, a candidate must have satisfied minimum requirements for entry to degree studies at the Midlands State University as stipulated in the General Regulations for undergraduate degrees. For entry to all Faculty of Commerce programmes the student must have passed Mathematics and English at Ordinary level with at least a "C" or better. The Faculty of Commerce's departments may further specify special requirements as entry qualifications.

2.1.2 Visiting School Undergraduate degree programmes

2.1.2.1 In order to qualify for entry into the Visiting School programme offered by the Faculty of Commerce, a candidate must, in addition to satisfying the minimum entry requirements prescribed under the General Regulations and the Faculty Regulations, have completed `A' Levels, the relevant Diploma(s) or their equivalent(s) as may be prescribed by the Departmental Regulations for such Visiting School Degree programme.

2.2 Special and Mature Entry

Refer to Section 3.2 and 3.3 of the General Academic Regulations.

3. DEFINITION OF TERMS

3.1 Non-Core Module

A non-core module is not compulsory but highly encouraged. A student is also encouraged to pass a non-core module. A studentcan graduate when he/she meets the required number of credits even if he has failed some non-core modules.

3.2 Elective Module/Optional Module

It is a module of which a student shops around from other faculties/ departments of the University. Pursuance of the module is subject to availability of staff and approval by the respective department.

3.3 Pre-requisite Module

It is a compulsory module that must be passed before a candidate is allowed to register for a related subsequent module.

3.4 Research Project/Dissertation

It is a defined practical assignment, which is separately examinable. It is related to independent studies or investigations. The investigation should be related to a particular topic within a module or subject. A student under the direction and supervision of a member of academic staff or an approved specialist undertakes the research project.

3.5 Field Trip

A field trip is an excursion undertaken by a student(s) outside the University campus. The field trips should be undertaken under the supervision of Academic and/or Technical Staff of the University. It may last for a part of a day or more. The field trip forms part of the studies.

3.6 For the definitions of level, semester, honours programme subject, module, core module, work related learning, continuous assessment, retake, carry over, repeat, discontinue, withdraw, special examination, aegrotat. Refer to Section 1.8 of General Regulations.

4. GENERAL PROVISIONS

4.1 The Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree programmes are normally studies over four levels and shall normally include a period of Work Related Learning during Level Three.

4.2 The Visiting School programme which caters for part time students who are in fulltime employment is studied over three levels, which are taught periods.

4.2.1 The Work Related Learning for the Visiting School programme will run concurrently with the second level. The period that students are at their work places during the second level (outside the one week per month during the semester when the students attend lectures at the University) shall constitute the Work Related Learning.

4.3 The Special Departmental Regulations shall prescribe the total number of modules per programme per semester, and the degree structures.

4.4 In level Four (Level Three for Bachelor of Commerce Visiting School), each student shall be required to write a Research Project/Dissertation on a chosen subject or topic within his/her field programme of study and this work may be based on tasks and research performed during the Work Related Learning period.

4.5 It is a process of crediting a student with the module(s) already passed in programmes similar or equivalent to the one on offer. The student may be exempted from studying such modules.

However, the student has to apply for the credit transfer. In his/her application the following should be attached:

(a) A transcript of the module(s) to be credit transferred.

(b) A synopsis of the module(s) from the University/ College where the module was attained.

4.6 The respective Departmental Boards will sit and assess applications for credits transfers and would recommend accordingly to Senate.

5. ASSESSMENT

5.1 Evaluation of students shall normally be based on continuous assessment as well as formal university examinations that are held at the end of each semester.

5.1.1 Continuous Assessment will account for 30% of the overall assessment.

5.1.2 Final examination accounts for 70% of the overall assessment.

5.1.3 Departments shall determine which items will be included in the continuous assessment and shall define the relevant weighting to each item.

5.2 To be admitted to the examinations, a candidate must;

5.2.1 be a registered student of the University in accordance with the General Regulations.

5.2.2 have satisfactorily attended and completed the approved modules of study. Satisfactory completion of modules shall require submission of all written assignments and tests that constitute the continuous assessment.

5.2.3 have attended and participated in seminars, tutorials and practical classes, work-related placement and other activities as stated in the Departmental Regulations.

6. WORK RELATED LEARNING

Refer to Section 10.2 of the General Regulations.

7. PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION

7.1 Students shall progress automatically from semester one to semester two at each Level with the exception of special cases that would have been approved by Senate, i.e. cases of students applying for deferment of studies.

7.1.1 The Faculty Board of Examiners shall meet at the end of the first semester of the level to ratify the marks obtained by candidates and considered by Departmental Boards. In the case of repeat level students, the Faculty Board may however, make a recommendation to withdraw or discontinue the student at this stage.

7.1.2 The Faculty Board shall meet at the end of the second semester of a level to ratify the marks obtained by candidates and make recommendations to Senate on issues of progression by students to the next level.

7.1.3 For a student to proceed from one level to the other, he/she must have passed at least eight (8) modules.

8. FAILURE TO SATISFY THE EXAMINERS

Refer to Section 9 of the General Academic Regulations.

9. WORK RELATED LEARNING GENERAL GUIDELINES

9.1 Honours degree programmes in the Faculty of Commerce shall normally include at least ten months of supervised Work Related Learning during the third level.

9.2 The Visiting School Programme will have the Work Related Learning period running concurrently with the second Level of the programme.

9.3 The departments shall normally source Work Related Learning placements for students and the Faculty Office shall provide the necessary administrative assistance.

9.4 Whilst on Work Related Learning, students shall be supervised by an Academic Supervisor who shall visit the students at least once during the Work Related Learning period.

9.5 A student who changes/moves from an organization that has been approved by the Department/Faculty to another organisation without the approval of the Department/Faculty shall be penalised by having 25% deducted from the final Work Related Learning mark that he/she would have obtained.

10. REMARKING OF EXAMINATIONS

Refer to Section 11.10 of the General Regulations

11. GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

11.1 To be awarded the degree, a student must pass all core modules at all levels and must have accrued at least 140 credits.

11.2 The classification of all modules and degree programmes shall be as stated in Section 5 of the General Regulations.

12. DEGREE WEIGHTING

12.1 The results for Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be given equal weighting as follows:

Level 1 - 25%

Level 2 - 25%

Level 3 - 25%

Level 4 - 25%

12.2 For the Visiting School Programme the weighting shall be as follows:

Level 1 - 33%

Level 2 - 33%

Level 3 - 34%